(2) K-3 Illustrated by Zachariah OHora. Best friends Chowder and Crackers love living and lobstering in the seaside town of Kittybunkport, though the lighthouse, allegedly possessed by lobster ghosts, is a drawback. One day the light goes out, and when "not one scaredy-cat in Kittybunkport raised their paw" to volunteer to investigate why, the BFFs are drafted into service and reluctantly head over in their boat (the Lobsta' Lova'). Rothman's cheeky text and OHora's cartoonlike illustrations keep any hint of spookiness at bay. The third-person narration often plays it straight ("Luckily, this didn't scare Chowder or Crackers...one bit"), while speech bubbles deliver the cat duo's well-scripted banter (Chowder: "I wouldn't say I'm terrified of it." Crackers: "I would. That's exactly what I would say"). Once inside the lighthouse, the two make their way "through thick, very gross cobwebs" and up the "creaky stairs." They're relieved to reach the top, only to encounter a giant lobster-shaped shadow -- "RUN! Lobster ghost!" A record-scratch of a page-turn assures us, "It wasn't." The shadow belongs to a chatty fishing dog ("as you can tell by the extremely yellow pants I'm wearing") who is on the scene with a very big lightbulb. OHora's digitally rendered art in saturated retro-hued colors makes the most of the humor; details such as the little lobster ghosts floating through many of the scenes will make readers want to haunt these pages again and again.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025

(2) K-3 The book's title might evoke comforting emotions, but (on the surface, at least) it refers to the central characters. Warm is a Bigfoot-like beast with a gap-toothed smile; Fuzzy, Warm's diminutive companion, looks more like a bear cub with prominent ears. Fuzzy smiles, too, but more often looks anxious, especially when Warm, upon awakening, declares, "Let's go on an adventure." Fuzzy is immediately skeptical, peppering Warm with a litany of little-kid-appropriate concerns: "What if it's really cold? Or super hot? What if it's scary? What if there are no bathrooms? Or worse, no toilet paper?!" Warm calmly packs their things (including clean underwear) into a massive green backpack, all the while reassuring the youngster. The two step through a magical door and into a wordless series of silly exploits with animal friends. Rothman hits just the right tone with this ode to trust and taking (safe) chances, incorporating enough TP jokes to keep the tone from growing too earnest. At times the change in speaker might be difficult to discern—only a subtle shift in font marks a difference between Fuzzy's and Warm's dialogue. Won's art, rendered digitally in a palette of soft greens, browns, and purples, is reminiscent of colored-pencil drawings; orange and yellow pastel hues create stunning sunrise and sunset skies. This one will soothe young worrywarts and empower their caregivers.

Reviewer: | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2025